Georgian Vice-PM: we are waiting for the Patriarchate’s decision on Ukrainian church independence
Georgian Vice-Prime Minister Maia Tskitishvili partly revealed her position regarding the independence of the Ukrainian church. Photo: Ministry of Infrastructure press office.
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Georgian Vice-Prime Minister and Minister for Regional Development Maia Tskitishvili says that the Georgian government is waiting for the decision of the Georgian Patriarchate regarding the recently gained independence of the Ukrainian church from Russia.
First of all, I share the view that the Georgian church should be the first in the country to share its position regarding the issue.”
On the other hand, I welcome any step which will provide opportunities for our ally state to strengthen itself as an independent country,” Tskitishvili said.
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and Metropolitan Epifaniy, head of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, attended a signing ceremony marking the new Ukrainian Orthodox church's independence on 5 January in Istanbul, Turkey.
The decision has been criticised by Russia.
A meeting of the Georgian Holly Synod took place on 27 December, where the Ukrainian church issue was discussed. However, top Georgian clerics stated that they were waiting for the decision of the Ecumenical Patriarch regarding the topic.
Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili also said a couple of days ago that she was waiting for the statement of the Georgian Patriarchate regarding the independence of the Ukrainian church.
Recently elected President Salome Zurabishvili has held her first meeting with the media, during which she spoke about her foreign policy priorities and answered journalists’ questions on the most controversial domestic or international issues.
Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili has announced that Maia Tskhitishvili will be Georgia’s new Minister of Regional Development and Infrastructure. Tskhitishvili has been the Head of the Government Administration since 2012. She will replace Zurab Alavidze, who took up the ministerial position in November 2016.
Municipal fundings will increase by more than 100 million GEL, Georgian Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Regional Development Maia Tskitishvili has stated today in parliament.
The Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze has appointed Interior Minister Giorgi Gakharia and Minister of Infrastructure and Regional Development Maia Tskitishvili as vice prime ministers today.
Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani told journalists today that Georgia is happy about each step which strengthens the statehood of Ukraine, its independence and sovereignty.
The Georgian Orthodox Church sees signs of a ‘threat’ in an interview given by the Chairman of the Department of External Relations of the Russian Patriarchate Metropolitan Hilarion, says the statement of the Georgian Patriarchate released today.
Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia has appointed Infrastructure Minister Maia Tskitishvili as his first deputy prime minister and Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani as deputy prime minister earlier today.